18 CIRCULAR NO. 118, BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. 



lands, and these records show that the night temperature on the 

 higher lands is, on the average, several degrees warmer than on the 

 low lands. On still nights the cold air settles to the lower levels. 

 Because of this fact it is better to plant all fruit trees that are sub- 

 ject to injury by frost on the higher elevations. A north slope is 

 preferable to a south slope, as the former does not warm up so much 

 on the warm days of spring, and in consequence the trees are some- 

 what retarded in coining into bloom. The danger of frost injury is 

 therefore lessened. An important point to consider in locating the 

 orchard is the situation with regard to underground water. Several 

 of the small orchards on the project have been killed by the rise of the 

 water table. If the trees are planted on comparatively high ground 

 this danger is lessened or avoided. 



AGE AND SIZE OF TREES FOR PLANTING. 



It is usual to plant fruit trees that are 1 or 2 years old. One-year- 

 old trees have the advantage over older trees in that they are usually 

 cheaper and their form can be shaped as the grower desires. When 

 the trees are to be purchased by a grower who does not understand 

 pruning, it is conceivable that better results may be obtained by pur- 

 chasing older trees on which the heads have already been formed. 

 The man who understands pruning, however, often prefers the 1- 

 year-old trees, so that he may form the heads to suit his own ideas. 

 It is not advisable to plant trees older than 2 years, as such trees are 

 akely to be culls left over from former years. The older trees are 

 less likely to start into vigorous growth after being transplanted, 

 because of the severe pruning necessary on both roots and tops. 



DISTANCE APART TO PLANT TREES. 



Many of the old orchards of the project were planted with trees 

 too close together, which resulted in crowded and misshapen trees. 

 Crowded trees can not spread out and the bearing wood is forced to 

 the tops, resulting in a decreased yield and putting the fruit where 

 it is not easily gathered. Figure 1 gives a view of an apple orchard 

 near Fallon where the trees were only 1 rod apart. 



Safe distances for planting fruit trees in Nevada are 32 to 36 feet 

 apart each way for apples and 16 to 20 feet apart for pears, peaches, 

 plums, prunes, cherries, and apricots. 



In the case of apple orchards, quick-bearing varieties may be 

 planted in the center of each square, these trees, or " fillers," as they 

 are called, to be cut out as soon as the trees of the orchard begin to 

 crowd. Good varieties to use for fillers are Oldenburg {Duchess of 

 Oldenburg), Wagener, Missouri, and Wealthy. These varieties will 



[Cir. 118.] 



